Mogami (cruiser)

The Mogami was an Imperial Japanese Navy heavy cruiser that was launched on 14 March 1934 and commissioned on 28 July 1935. The ship was named for the Mogami River in the Tohoku region of Japan, and the ship was exceptionally large for a light cruiser. In 1937, Mogami was converted into a heavy cruiser, and she fought in numerous World War II naval battles until fighting her final battle at the Battle of Leyte Gulf. On 25 October 1944, while fighting in the Surigao Strait, Mogami was hit by shell fire that destroyed her bridge and air defense center. Mogami was further damaged in a collision with the Nachi, and continued US Navy aircraft bombing led to the ship's port engine breaking down. At 10:47 AM, the crew began to abandon ship, and 192 crewmen perished with the ship, while 700 were rescued.